One Last Shot: Yates, Tar Heels' QB, plans to quiet his critics in bowl

North Carolina has one football game left this season, and quarterback T.J. Yates considers it one of the most important of his career.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl -- against Pittsburgh at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 26 -- will give Yates one last chance for a strong finish in what has often been a trying season for him.

"It's kind of like a final, going into a final exam," he said. "I've got to prove myself in a way. I know I can play better, and my teammates know I can play better. I've kind of got to prove it all on Dec. 26th."

This has been the most up-and-down season of Yates' three as UNC's starter. He has continued a climb up the statistical ladder in the school record book yet has been hampered by turnovers and rushed decisions, some at critical times.

Yates is only the second quarterback in UNC history with 5,000 yards passing. The one moment that most fans remember him by, however, might be an interception he threw Oct. 22 against Florida State.

UNC led 24-13 when Yates was intercepted at the FSU 3. After a penalty pushed FSU back to the 2, Christian Ponder threw a 98-yard touchdown pass on the next play, starting a rally that led to a 30-27 Seminoles' win.

The play still bothers Yates, who thought it turned around a game that the Tar Heels seemed to have under control. Late in the season, he was intercepted three times at Boston College after UNC had surged ahead 21-0, but the Tar Heels held on to win.

Then on Nov. 28 at N.C. State, the last day of the regular season, UNC was held to three second-half points in a 28-27 loss after Yates passed for 206 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

"In my perspective, this has been kind of a disappointing season in the way that I've played and managed the games a couple of times," Yates said. "There's definitely many things I can improve on as a quarterback. I kind of took a step back in my progression."

Still resilient

Yates was at a basketball game Dec. 1 at the Smith Center when his segment in a school promotion was shown. Students, alumni and fans booed when his face appeared on the four video boards. All others in the promotional video were cheered, some loudly.

"I laughed, but I'm thinking, ‘Holy smokes, this can't be happening,'" Yates said with a smile. "It was a good thing I was there with some guys on the team backing me up. It probably happens every game, I imagine, every time my face goes up on that board."

Yates said he can't remember a season in which his play has received so much criticism.

"It's definitely been an eye-opening experience," he said. "You're getting it from all angles, fans and critics. You try as much as possible to not listen to it or pay attention to it, but when you're hearing it from every angle everywhere you go, it's kind of tough."

Coach Butch Davis has no major complaints about Yates' play. He wishes that Yates would have made a different decision or two.

Yates helped UNC go 8-4 for the second consecutive season and land its second consecutive bowl berth despite some demanding circumstances, starting with an injury ravaged line.

"I think there's been some very, very bright moments for him," Davis said. "In spite of some of the things where he didn't play well, the one thing he has shown throughout his entire career is a lot of resiliency.

"Emotionally and psychologically, the interception against Florida State was tough. He felt bad about it, but then he finds a way to bounce back, and look how well he threw the ball and orchestrated some of those drives against Virginia Tech on the road (the next week). That wasn't easy."

Blame to spare

Yates has 1,953 yards passing this season and needs 224 to become only the second UNC quarterback with 6,000 in his career. He's already No. 2 in school history in completions, touchdowns, attempts, yards and completion percentage.

He has completed 60.4 percent of his passes this season, but his 12 touchdown passes are offset by 14 interceptions, some his fault, others not. The Tar Heels receivers are inexperienced, a total reversal from last season when three veterans caught most of Yates' passes.

Injuries on the line left two potential starters out for the season before the first game and forced three other starters to miss a combined 15 games.

Tight end Zack Pianalto, one of Yates' closest friends, said that the criticism of Yates' play is unjustified, given what he has done for the team.

"You've got to know that it's a not a one-man game," Pianalto said. "This is the only game in the world that every play, 11 people have to do their job to be successful. If I mess up on the play, it's not going to be good. If the left guard messes up, it's not going to be good.

"I hope it doesn't affect him personally. I think he knows we all have his back."

Yates still says he could have done more, given the circumstances and his position.

"My play didn't help the fact that we were missing so many offensive linemen and had young wide receivers," he said. "It kind of puts more on my shoulders. I've got to be the one getting those guys in the right place."

An efficient, productive game against Pittsburgh and a victory would make the season easier for Yates to accept. Moreover, it would give him and his teammates a springboard for 2010, which will be Yates' last at UNC.

"I'm glad that the fans care enough to criticize me," Yates said. "It's deserving. Sometimes the way I played during the season deserves criticism like that. The only thing it's going to do is make me work harder this offseason."

bcole@wsjournal.com.